Celebrate National Physical Therapy Month October 2011

Physical therapists and therapy assistants play a vital role in helping millions of people restore mobility and improve their quality of life. Today, with more Americans living longer than ever, there is an ever growing need for the unique skills they provide—and what better way to do so than through education and awareness?

October 2011 is National Physical Therapy Month—a time to recognize the more than 180,000 men and women dedicated to helping people stay healthy and active at any age—and this year the theme is “sports injury prevention across the lifespan”.

According to the American Physical Therapy Association, “Whether it's Little League or the Masters, participating in sports helps promote physically active lifestyles. Despite the documented health benefits of physical activity (weight management, cardiovascular endurance, improved muscular function, increased self-esteem, etc.), we know the potential for sports-related injuries exists.”

The APTA’s website http://www.moveforwardpt.com/ provides valuable information for the public as well as helpful resources for other healthcare professionals to increase awareness about the importance of physical therapy in promoting a healthier population. Here are some interesting facts from the site!

• 88% of PT users say the care they received was beneficial to helping them return to normal activity, increasing their range of motion, and relieving their pain.
• PT-developed exercise programs can reduce athletes’ risk of injury by 41%
• One study found PT helped patients with low back pain in 92% of cases
• Surgery is no more effective than PT and medical management for osteoarthritis of the knee.

According to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market for physical therapists is expected to grow by 30 percent from 2008 to 2018—considerably faster than the average for all occupations. Visit Care2Learn today to view our comprehensive CE library for physical therapy professionals, including exclusive courses such as Back in Golf: Rehabilitation Techniques (1154).